Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) – The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa wants to make sure that all Ethiopians have the information they need to make informed decisions about the U.S. Government’ s annual Diversity Visa (DV) program. Misinformation, misunderstanding, and outright lies from dishonest businesses and individuals have the potential to cost members of the public both time and money, and even to make applicants participants in serious fraud schemes that could make them ineligible for visas for the rest of their lives.

The DV Program was established to allow up to 55,000 visas a year for applicants in countries under-represented in U.S. immigration patterns. Ethiopia is among the participating countries, and interest in the program is especially high here. With a new season for DV applications approaching (the application period will run from October 5, 2005, through December 4, 2006), the U.S. Embassy is starting a campaign – in Amharic, Tigrigna, Oromiffa, and Somali, as well as English – to make sure Ethiopians know more about the program. Using brochures, advertisements, and radio announcements, the Embassy will make as widely available as possible information like the following: